The magnetic structure of neodymium below 20K: a first-principles mean field theory for two-dimensionally modulated spin patterns in an antiferromagnet

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Abstract
The energy and entropy of a superposition of several modulated spin patterns is calculated from first principles, and the structures which give stationary free energy are identified. The addition of an anisotropic exchange term, of similar form and magnitude to that observed in praseodymium, suggests the conclusion that in neodymium a double q structure should be the most stable. The experimental evidence on neodymium is reviewed and is shown to be rather naturally accounted for by the double q structure, though as yet no conclusive evidence can be offered.